When we’ve been working for a long time, we start to see the same patterns show up in different teams, companies, and projects. After a while, the mindset of “been there, done that” begins to creep in. When hired into a new job, existing knowledge and experience is definitely considered and can be an asset. If we walk in thinking we have nothing to learn, however, it might be a fast path to mistakes in a new role.
A few years ago, I took on my first role at my current company. It was a role I was familiar with. Probably too familiar. My new leader wanted to give me plenty of time to get acclimated before introducing me to the full scope of my role.
For someone who loves to learn and normally sees new roles as fertile ground for growth, I was chomping at the bit. About two weeks in, I finally convinced him to give me more and let me start building the new mental models I’d need for all aspects of the role.
It wasn’t enough, but I quickly learned to be careful what I wished for.
Back to school
Over the months ahead, I’d take on role after role in the team. We had a lot of turnover as my leader left the company and a new one came in. I stepped in to fill the gaps and was learning new things as fast as I ever had.
I was back in school, leaning into the student mindset.
It was during this time that I started deepening my relationships with peers and various members of the broader team. Not because of my expertise, but because of theirs. When we are in learning mode, we open ourselves up to what OTHERS know.
Relationships matter. Don’t let anyone tell you differently (I’m looking at you younger Kristin). In the earliest stages of a new job, we have an opportunity to build trust and rapport. If we rely too heavily on what we already know, we lose the chance to learn from those around us.
No matter how much we think we know, we can always learn. Whether it’s a new team, stakeholder, cultural norms…the list goes on. Going back into student mode allowed me to find new teachers across the organization. What a gift to get a do-over months into the job.
Bring on the firehose
When I compare that first role with my current one, the onboarding couldn’t be more different. I didn’t know anyone in the organization, the work I’d be doing, or the process they used to get work done. I’d been wanting to get into human-centered change for a decade and I was finally here.
Let the learning begin.
It was tempting to jump right in from the start. My leadership, change, and project management skills were all transferrable. A lot felt familiar, but sometimes deceptively so. Words I thought nothing of using suddenly had different meanings to the business. There was a lot of learning and unlearning to do.
With a student mindset, I treated everyone like a mentor. They all had something to teach me, whether they were a member of my team, a stakeholder, customer…everyone. Looking back, those first few months building relationships based on a desire to learn and center those I serve were critical to any success I’ve enjoyed in the meantime.
And the learning continues.
The best teachers remain students
Over the decades, I’ve done my best to expand my toolkit through additional training, certifications, and challenging work. In 2024, I started a Master’s program for leading change. Why? Because leaders are learners and teachers remain students.
I struggle a bit, as so much of what I’m supposed to be learning I already have years of practical experience DOING. And yet.
When asked by my professor to share what I wanted to get out of our leadership theory class, I might have been a little flip. I said I’d consider the course a success if I could learn one thing that 30 years of practical experience didn’t teach me.
No matter how many years of experience we have, there’s always something we can learn. If a job, course, or other opportunity is just a check in the box, what’s the point? The class was a prerequisite for the one I really wanted to take later in the program. I could have mailed it in and probably done okay, but what would I have learned? What opportunities would I have missed?
The next time we find ourselves in situations that feel familiar or aren’t that challenging, let’s consider what we might learn. Even if we know enough to teach those around us, leaving ourselves open to a student mindset can pay dividends. We never know what we might learn and who we might meet when we leave ourselves open to the possibility.
